Narrowing to Nine

           We don't often think about this, but like every great story throughout history, every triumph has a tragedy mingled with it. Jesus' birth not only brought great joy, but it also brought great sorrow. It is slightly ironic that an event that was to lead to salvation, also indirectly brought about one of the most horrific massacres in history.

            As one of our elders pointed out, Herod the great may not be commonly listed among the most evil men in history, but he certainly deserves a spot right alongside the likes of Hitler and Stalin whose common trait was that they had no problem murdering children if it seemed to serve their ends. Interesting fact about Herod, he murdered his mother-in-law, second wife, and three of his sons out of fear that they were plotting against his throne, so it's almost no shock that he murdered a whole town of baby boys when he heard rumors of One born king of the Jews. We all know Herod's bloody attempt didn't succeed. God warned Joseph in a dream after the Wisemen left, and he got up by night and fled with the family to Egypt, but a score, at least, of young boys were still slaughtered.

            Mixed in with the beautiful story of Christ's birth, joined in conjunction with all the hopeful prophecies was a bitter one.

          "A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children. And she refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more."  ~ Jeremiah 31:15

           But, you may be asking, "Christianna why are you talking about this during advent when the event occurred approximately two years after Christ's birth?" A very valid question; the event may have occurred later but in the Scriptures we read of it almost directly after the birth account, and it goes hand in hand with the events surrounding Christ's birth. Finally, it is impossible to fully appreciate a Saviour without fully understanding what we've been saved from.

          I want us to remember this and think about it, because whatever other extrapolation we can pull out of this story, one thing is clear, a story like this which displays the utter wickedness of one man, demonstrates poignantly our need for a Saviour. Herod is there to remind us all of the evil we ourselves could sink to were it not for the grace of God. I for one know, based on my naturally detached, coldly calculating personality, could be quite capable of slaughtering hundreds of people if I thought it furthered my goals or protected my interests. How grateful I am that God reached out and rescued me from myself.

          So today, this third Sunday of advent as we meditate on this solemn event, let us thank God that He cared enough for such vile people as ourselves to save us from it all, to make us actually desire to do good from pure motives, without Him there would be no such thing. My friends, while you thank God for this, listen to this solemn carol commemorating the event.